Need advice with a Registry issue

I want to get rid of a number of items from my XPP right-click-New menu, like 'Microsoft Excel Worksheet', 'Wave Sound', 'Bitmap Image' and a whole lot more.

To cut a looooong story short, (involving Context Menu Editors that don't work and trying to manipulate various registry keys without success), I found my way to this regkey:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Discardable\PostSetup\ShellNew

Aha! I thought - this is where I can get rid of some of these freeloading entries. To be on the safe side, I exported the entire key before I tried deletions. But when I started, it didn't look like deletions would work, as I wasn't allowed to modify or remove any of the entries. But after right-clicking the ShellNew key, and selecting Permissions, then exiting Permissions again, I was able to delete the items I didn't want, and after I File\Exited the Registry, my right-click-New menu was in its new trimmed-down state.

But only for 20 seconds or so, and then all the entries came back again.

I tried it again and after dumping the unwanted entries, Exported the slimmed-down key (with another name). Then, when all the entries came back, I imported the slimmed-down key, but to no avail. The whole thing is just the way it was when I started.

Suggestions would be much appreciated

 

You can use Tweak UI to do this. Click on "templates" in the left pane. Works for me.

 

Thanks, Zander, I hadn't considered TweakUI. I've been using it for years, but recently dropped it when I last rebuilt my system, because I've seen a few posts that have fingered TweakUI for minor system *****-ups.

But, yes, I'll give it another chance. Good call.

Cheers!

 

Yeah, you're right, of course - TweakUI does the bizz.

BTW - here's a tip for anyone else who didn't already know it:
I've often found it irritating to try to find my way back to a registry item that I've previously worked on. And then today I realise there's an 'Favorites\Add to Favorites' item on the Registry menu bar. Duhh...!

Also, anyone who cruises the Registry frequently should try RegSeeker. Excellent app. Brought up my 137 ShellNew entries in about 15 seconds. Definitely one of my 'can't do without' apps.

Cheers.

 

See what you think of this one

Download and browse Registry First Aid from this link
http://www.rosecitysoftware.com/reg1aid/

To correct more than 14 entries you will need to register it.

Try it after you have run RegSeeker and see what you think.

A lot of people like it.

 

Well, yes, Registry First Aid isn't bad, although personally, I prefer Registry Checkup.

But the value of RegSeeker is it's ability to quickly search the registry and find all listings of a certain key or value.

 

You can do quick searches with Registry First Aid using the search for unwanted entries method.